Collectibles

Item Description

Lefton China Bunny with a Bluebird figurine 07506

The Lefton China bunny is welcoming spring with a bluebird. Let her bring smiles and the fresh spring season into your home.

Figurine dimension: Bonnet to base 3 1/4"

Figurine circumference: 2 1/4"

NOTE: BIDDERS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING

Donated by Cynthia and Dane Garvin

Item Special Note

George Zoltan Lefton (also referred to as Geo Z Lefton, Geo Zoltan Lefton, and G.Z. Lefton) arrived in the United States from Hungary in 1939. Although Lefton made his living in Hungary in sportswear, his passion for fine porcelain turned from a hobby into a business when he founded the Lefton Company in 1941 in Chicago.

Lefton is well known both for its production of items in Japan and for the Made in Occupied Japan marking. Admiring the quality of Japanese porcelain, Lefton was one of the first American businessmen to deal with the Japanese after World War II. Lefton imported goods from Japan under the now well known marking "Made in Occupied Japan" at a price affordable to the American public. Japan served as the primary source of items for Lefton until the mid 1970s, when it was replaced by other low cost producers.

The Lefton Company imported, made, and sold pottery, porcelain, hand painted china, glass, and other ceramic giftware. While the quality of the Lefton goods helps explain the popularity of vintage Lefton items, it's also the breadth of items produced by the Lefton company, the fact that some items were made for everyday use and others were made simply for collection and display, and the easily identified branding all surely contributed. Lefton marks identifying their products included a variety of stamps (or fired-on marks), paper labels (or foil stickers), and identification numbers.

At one time Lefton products were sold in over 10,000 shops in the United States, and given their popularity still it seems unlikely that one could go very far in any antique mall in the country without find a piece of Lefton china or a Lefton figurine. To the extent that one is looking for competitors, I would expect that companies such as Noritake, Napco, and Enesco jump to most minds.

Unfortunately, George Z. Lefton died in 1996 and the Lefton Company was sold in 2001 after 60 years of producing some of America's most popular collectibles and kitchenware.